A smartphone for adventure seekers

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Relaxnews

Jan 25, 2013

, Last Updated: 6:02 PM ET

New mobile company ADAIA has joined forces with world-famous BASE jumper and 'wingsuit' pilot Jeb Corliss to test its prototype adventure sports smartphone to destruction and to launch a talent contest for aspiring extreme athletes.

For many consumers a smartphone that can survive a tumble from a jacket pocket to the floor or a few splashes of coffee and live to social network another day is enough. But for some, such as the world's extreme athletes or even just those whose hobbies take them further than the couch, a handset with one or two more robust qualities is necessary -- hitting the ground after falling from the table is one thing, hitting the ground after falling from a pocket during a BASE jump is quite another.

Extreme testconditions

And so, throughout 2013, Corliss will take the prototype Android handset with him on a series of hair-raising adventures including diving in Palau, BASE jumping in Asia and Europe and an as yet unspecified but large-scale project in the Nevada desert, all to ensure that the phone is the ideal handset for everyone with an adventurous streak and can work in any environment.

"The ADAIA smartphone will be super valuable in far-flung corners of the world for the abilities to stay in touch and communicate through social platforms but also for safety reasons. It could be the difference between living and dying in a remote location." Jeb Corliss said. He continued, "For someone like me, when this technology exists it won't be a question of if I would want one, but when will it be available as it is an absolute necessity for people who do similar things to me."

ADAIA was created when a group of former Nokia colleagues and other mobile industry professionals with a sense of adventure came together to create a handset aimed at athletes of all types -- hikers, trekkers, skiers, sailors, divers, paragliders, bikers, skateboarders, enduro motorcyclers and extreme sports enthusiasts. As the company's CEO and co-founder Heikki Sarajärvi explained: "When I destroyed my fourth smartphone last year while sailing, I knew there was a need for a durable smartphone capable of weathering the toughest environments. Bringing Jeb's talent onto the team to put our handset through its paces is vital to our business, as we get closer to bringing it to market. Jeb will demonstrate the importance and usability of features including military grade security, a top of the range navigation tracking system and an extended battery."

As well as recruiting Corliss, ADAIA is bringing a group of the world's leading international explorers and adventure athletes together to aid research, development and testing of the handset on upcoming expeditions including Kevin Vallely, one of Canada's leading adventurers, who will take the phone on an 1,800-mile (2900 km) rowing trip through the Arctic's Northwest Passage this summer.

Seeking daring testers

Jeb Corliss, who has made thousands of BASE jumps, from the likes of the Eiffel Tower, Golden Gate Bridge, Angel Falls in Venezuela, the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur and into a half-mile deep cave in China, will also join the judging panel ADAIA's Daring Dozen Competition. The Daring Dozen is a talent search seeking 12 real-life outdoor adventurists who can win their dream challenges and help road-test prototype phones in locations across the globe. More information about the hunt for the Daring Dozen can be found at http://a.pgtb.me/wt0sBF.